Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Biblical Teaching
on Giving
The Giving God
When we consider our own giving to Holy Trinity, to mission, to
special appeals, to charities, to friends in need - how do we
decide what to give? One of the problems with an affluent and
materialistic society is that there is pressure on us to spend
before we acknowledge the giving God who has revealed
himself in Jesus Christ.
Before you read on you may find it helpful to read and reflect
on 2 Corinthians 8 and 9. In these chapters Paul shows how our
regular giving is rooted in the gospel in three central themes:
the grace of God, the cross of Christ, and the unity of the Spirit.
2
The Giving Christian
Our response to the giving God is to give ourselves. That was
the response of the early Christians about whom Paul was
writing, and it has been the response of Christians down the
ages.
4
A Spiritual Postscript
As Paul wrote: ”But just as you excel in everything – in faith, in
speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love
for us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving” (2
Corinthians 8:7)
All Christians are called to share the gospel with others, some as
evangelists and others to exercise pastoral care. But all
Christians are called to be generous and those entrusted with
significant financial resources have a special responsibility to be
good stewards. For the way we use our money is a significant
sign of our concern for the coming of His kingdom, and the
expression of His mercy, justice and love.
"Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give,
not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful
giver"
(2 Corinthians 9:7) A Spiritual Postscript